Vernon Surprised By Easy Win

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Former national junior representative Dane Vernon easily brushed aside the challenge of Carlos Phillpotts on yesterday's opening day of action at the NCB Capital Markets Tennis Open, which will be contested over five days at the Liguanea Club.

The unseeded Vernon registered an easy straight-sets win over Phillpotts, stopping him 6-0, 6-2 in the first of 10 scheduled matches.

Vernon thus kept himself in the reckoning for the US$6,000 prize money that will be awarded to the eventual winner of the men's singles.

Imminent obstacle

He will, however, find a huge obstacle in his way on today's second day, as he is on course to meet seventh seed Dominic Pagon.

"I got off to a good start today, surprisingly," Vernon expressed.

"I was a little fortunate today that it didn't last that long as tomorrow (today) I have a decent player, so I am going to have to get some rest and make sure I am ready for that one," he added.

As he anticipates a tough match today, Vernon plans plans on giving his all.

"It is going to be a tough battle, it should be a good match because I am going to fight as usual," Vernon shared.

Phillpotts was gracious in defeat, as he paid tribute to Vernon's play.

"I couldn't find my rhythm on my serve and in men's tennis that is a big part of the game, so fighting so much to find my serve made it even tougher to think about breaking his," Phillpotts explained.

26-minute win

In the two other matches completed at press time, Oshane Trail took a mere 26 minutes to get the better of Dwayne Lue Shing 6-4, 6-1 to set up a meeting with number-two seed Hayden Lewis of Barbados, while Macoy Malcolm earned the right to meet number-six seed Dwayne Pagon, after getting by Horatio Ludford 6-0, 6-3.

Today will also witness the introduction of Haiti's Oliver Sajous, the Association of Tennis Professionals' (ATP) 512-ranked men's seed, who is rated number one for the tournament. The Haitian, who received an opening round bye, will take on Canadian Max Brown, who benefited from a walkover yesterday after his scheduled opponent, Simon Brown, failed to show.

Belgium's 11th-ranked and women's number one seed, 20-year-old Machela Boev, will lead nine other women into action today when she takes on Jamaica's Lisa Chin.

The winner of the women's category will pocket US$1,000.

Today's action is slated to serve off at 4 p.m.